Readers sound off on Sweetwater scandal

Sweetwater needs to heal from wounds

I want to thank the media for covering the scandal ridden Sweetwater Union High School District.

Having read seven volumes of grand jury testimony the level of hubris demonstrated by the Board of Trustees and superintendent, both past and present, is unprecedented.

The sense of entitlement and privilege demonstrated in the first volumes leads me to believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This district wraps itself in secrecy requiring a Public Records Act request before disclosing that which should have been made readily available. The present board, with the cooperation of the superintendent, has resisted enacting any reforms to campaign contribution limits. (There presently are none.) The lack of limits on gifts and contributions is the very thing that has four out of five sitting Board members under criminal indictment.

Sweetwater is suffering from a gangrenous wound that will require deep cauterization and a prolonged period of recuperation. What is clear is that these misdeeds were known by and offended many of the hardworking honest people within the district.

To quote Edmund Burke, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

I urge all who know of other problems and abuses, particularly bullying and intimidation of staff to come forward so that we can purge the offenders and begin healing. We owe that to ourselves and our children.

Kevin O’Neill

Chula Vista

Looking for suggestions from board of trustees I wanted to say thank you to the U-T for publishing the grand jury transcripts regarding the Sweetwater Union High School District.

After reading these transcripts I am more determined than ever to have this board adopt a resolution for campaign contribution and term limitations. I have been trying for over a year and half with no avail to have this board adopt some kind of campaign reform. However, nobody on this board is willing to move forward on the reform except for Ms. Lopez.

I have heard every excuse, such as the proposal has loopholes, leaves it wide open for special interest groups, however, not one member of the Sweetwater Union High School District Board has stepped forward with suggestions.

One would tend to expect that since the grand jury testimonies have been released this board would welcome any kind of reform. However, it is clear that the only intentions they have are for themselves.

Maty Adato

Chula Vista

Appreciation for Watchdog coverage of Sweetwater

Thank you for making the grand jury testimony available to the public at no cost.

It’s been a long road getting here. I’m grateful to the exceptional staff that believed our stories. Tanya Sierra started this adventure with us and stayed with this on going saga until she left the U-T. The ever-tenacious Ashly McGlone followed. Her investigative abilities abounded and supplied the public and DA’s office with even more critical information.

A big thank you to Ricky Young for putting up with us and his sense of fairness. This investigation took flight because of all of your joint efforts. Thank you.